Jurors can be asked about ‘CSI’

The state’s highest court ruled yesterday that it is permissible for judges to question potential jurors about the so-called “CSI effect’’ – whether they would require irrefutable scientific evidence in order to return a guilty verdict – without biasing a trial’s outcome. The Supreme Judicial Court rebuffed the argument that such questions prejudice the jury by suggesting they overlook a lack of scientific evidence or unfairly weed out jurors who would require more empirical proof of guilt.